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Michael Carrick, with his extensive experience, is careful not to reveal whether he wishes to become Manchester United’s permanent manager. Instead, he preferred to share a lighter moment, mentioning how his children were part of the away supporters at the Emirates Stadium. Their joy was palpable following Matheus Cunha’s impressive goal that secured United’s third, and again when the final whistle confirmed a 3-2 victory—Manchester United’s first triumph at Arsenal in eight years.
It’s uncertain if Carrick’s children were still singing his praises with the 3,000 traveling fans fifteen minutes after the match ended, but considering the vibrant atmosphere, it’s likely. Meanwhile, minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe watched from the directors’ box with a rare display of satisfaction—a significant change after a challenging two years overseeing the football operations at Old Trafford. The occasion provided one of the few reasons for optimism in recent times.
Carrick’s brief tenure as interim manager has so far yielded two consecutive victories. This accomplishment mirrors an achievement matched only once during Ruben Amorim’s 14-month spell, when he earned the October manager of the month award following a run of three straight wins. Carrick’s United has collected six points in just two games, whereas Amorim needed five matches to reach seven points but then suffered three successive defeats. What’s more, these wins came against the table’s top two teams, contrasting sharply with United’s earlier slip-ups against clubs currently languishing near the bottom of the league.
Six weeks ago, few predicted that Carrick would be favored over candidates like Crystal Palace’s Oliver Glasner to manage United going forward. But recent results have begun to challenge those expectations.
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Warnings against repeating the 2018-19 scenario, when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was appointed following an initial unbeaten run, have started to lose ground. Solskjaer took over as interim manager and surged to eight consecutive wins before ultimately securing the role permanently after an astonishing Champions League comeback against Paris Saint-Germain. Although he later led United to the Europa League final in 2021, that early promise did not endure.
Carrick remains measured despite the encouraging start. He describes ‘riding’ the current momentum as harnessing the players’ emotions, particularly following triumphs over Manchester City and Arsenal. His brief celebration on the touchline after Cunha’s late goal was a rare visible sign of delight, especially since United had conceded an equalizer shortly before that moment. “You have to ride it, and use the emotion, the energy and confidence,” Carrick said after the match. “But you also have to be humble and realise how we have achieved these two results. We can’t look too far ahead. We won’t anyway but looking too far ahead can bite you.”
During a Sky Sports interview, Carrick declined to express any desire for the permanent position. “I am here to do a job,” he stated. “When I came here less than two weeks ago, I said we would make every decision for the bigger picture. We are not getting carried away. It is two huge results, but we will keep our feet on the ground. I am enjoying it and I will continue to do what I can.”
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Since taking charge, Carrick has addressed several issues present during Amorim’s management, notably abandoning the previous 3-4-3 formation in favor of a more traditional four-at-the-back setup. He has reintegrated Kobbie Mainoo and repositioned captain Bruno Fernandes into a more advanced role. One bold decision that has paid off was selecting Patrick Dorgu over Matheus Cunha in the left-sided attacking position. Dorgu has scored twice in Carrick’s opening two matches, while Cunha also contributed, scoring the winning goal against Arsenal and assisting in the victory over Manchester City.
“He [Cunha] epitomises what we’ve been like,” Carrick commented. “He has not started both games and he’s been disappointed not to start. But he’s used it in a really good way. He’s had a real big impact and two huge moments. I fancied him to score when the ball came out of his feet. He totally deserves it because of how he has applied himself.”
Cunha, speaking to Match of the Day, remarked on the renewed spirit at United under Carrick’s guidance. “He played here so many years,” Cunha noted. “He knows the feeling for Manchester United. He spoke with us and told us how big it is to play for this club. He said everyone is against us, so we have to go on the pitch and give everything.”
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Observers are left to judge Carrick’s influence, as he himself refrains from offering evaluations. Micah Richards praised the change on Sky Sports, saying, “What a job he is doing. The overall spirit looks different. The big question was: Could they back up the win over Manchester City? They backed it up all right.”
Just three weeks prior, Carrick was enjoying a holiday with Wayne Rooney in Barbados. By Friday, the two were side by side at Old Trafford, watching Kai Rooney help the Under-18 team progress to the FA Youth Cup last 16. Rooney, familiar with the pressures Carrick faces, reflected on the start to his interim spell: “Two wins out of two against Manchester City and Arsenal. I don’t think he would have dreamed of that start when he took over last week. You’ve seen a complete change in everything since he’s been in.”
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